After pausing a heat pump mandate earlier this year after a federal court overturned Berkeley, Calif.’s ban on gas appliances in new buildings, Washington state enacted a new code provision that seems poised to achieve the same goal.
The state Building Code Council recently revised the state building code to require new buildings to meet the same total energy performance as those built with electric heat pumps. Builders have the option to choose gas appliances, but they must find ways to achieve the same efficiency as a building that uses heat pumps.
Washington’s approach enacts a tough standard that makes it difficult and expensive for builders to meet energy efficiency targets without installing heat pumps instead of explicitly mandating them. Heat pumps can put out three to four times as much heat energy as the amount of electricity they consume, making buildings that use them much more energy efficient than those heated by gas.
The code revisions could go into effect as soon as March 15, pending any legal challenges.
Related Stories
| May 28, 2013
Proposal to water down Las Vegas green building code draws criticism
A proposed bill before the Las Vegas City Council would allow any building built before 2009 undergoing a renovation to only have to meet the energy code requirements at the time of initial construction, not the current, stricter guidelines.
| May 28, 2013
Mazria: ‘No need for new power plants to meet growth in buildings sector’
A new analysis of federal data shows that the U.S. buildings sector has made enormous strides in efficiency over the last six years—potentially eliminating the need to build any new power plants to support growth in the sector through 2030.
| May 27, 2013
Support increasing in Ontario to change codes to allow taller wood frame construction
Developers and home builders are asking the Ontario government to change the building code to allow construction of six-story wood frame buildings.
| May 27, 2013
'JUST' label aims to assess social justice on building material manufacturers
At the Living Future's annual conference in May, Jason McLennan, and architecture firm BNIM founder Bob Berkebile launched the JUST label, an extension of the Declare label that addresses social justice and equity issues.
| May 27, 2013
Bipartisan legislation filed to revamp EPA lead rule
Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to reform the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Rule.
| May 27, 2013
Bill would mandate contractors use subs identified in bids on federal projects
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) filed a bill in May that would require prime contractors that bid on federal construction projects over $1 million to list each subcontractor they plan to use for $100,000 or more of work.
| May 27, 2013
Maryland law on codes for wind resistance will take effect in October
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety says that Maryland citizens will be safer due to legislation passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley.
| May 23, 2013
AGC Contractors Environmental Conference focuses on compliance issues
The 2013 AGC Contractors Environmental Conference June 13 and 14 in Arlington, Va., will include cost-effective strategies for firms to remain compliant and competitive.
| May 23, 2013
ASTM releases new carbon steel hollow structural sections
ASTM has released a new HSS standard, A1085 - 13 Standard Specification for Cold-Formed Welded Carbon Steel Hollow Structural Sections (HSS).
| May 23, 2013
Group Health Puyallup medical center first project to achieve 'LEED for Health Care' certification
The Group Health Puyallup (Wash.) Medical Center is the first facility to be certified under the LEED for Healthcare (LEED-HC) rating system, earning LEED Gold.